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A YEAR after an explosion ripped through pensioner Jimmy Brown's home in the Horsefair in Malmesbury, angry residents are still battling for compensation payouts.

On April 23 last year Mr Brown's home blew up when he switched his kettle on in his kitchen, because there was a gas leak.

But work has barely begun and residents say it still resembles a bombsite.

Gary Emerton, who lives opposite Mr Brown's damaged home, has spoken out about his frustration in trying to get compensation for the disruption.

His roof lifted as a result of the explosion and he had to pay out for a structural survey and replaster all his ceilings because of the cracks.

But he has only been offered £250 compensation.

He said: "It is a joke really. I didn't want to make a claim on the insurance because I knew I would lose my no claims and it would go up after.

"The explosion actually lifted the roof and cracked the ceiling. However, they are not obliged legally to pay a penny in compensation.

"I thought it would be a goodwill gesture for the disruption. We have had all the building work disrupting our lives."

Mr Emerton has decided not to accept the offer describing it as "an insult".

"I am now considering asking them to send it to Macmillan. I don't want it but I don't want them to keep it."

Paul Humphreys, who also lives in Horsefair said: "There was about £17,000 worth of damage to my house after the explosion. It has been an insurance job but the frustrating thing is that there has been no compensation for the inconvenience.

"It has been quite a traumatic experience and we have just been left to it.

"I thought about using a solicitor to write to Wales and West's loss adjustors but no-one wants to take it on.

"I know others in the street would be interested in compensation.

"Even if they gave the town as a whole £100,000 to be divided up, it would at least be something.

"The past year has flown by but we are still the ones having to deal with the bombsite day in day out."

After an investigation into the explosion the Health and Safety Executive decided not to prosecute and instead to caution Wales and West Utilities, the Chippenham based contractor Avent Engineering Ltd and the individual engineer, responsible for the work in the street, by serving them with enforcement notices.

Those wanting to seekcompensation should write to Avent's loss adjustors, Crawfords, at 7 King Square, Bristol, BS2 8JD.

8:43am Thursday 17th April 2008

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